Can-catcher



lie- 750,973.

K0 MODEL.

WITNESSES H. P. HI NGKLBY b CAN GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11.1902.

PATENTED'PEB. 2, 1904.-

UNITED STATES Patented February 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CAN-CATCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,973, dated February 2, 1904.

Application filed June 11, 1902. Serial No. 111,096. (No model.)

To all ZUhOTIZ/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY P. HINCKLEY, of Glenfielchin the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lifting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im-' proved device. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View, and Fig. 1 is a detail view of the locking device.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for seizing and lifting cans, bottles, boxes, parcels, &c., from shelves or other positionout of reach of the hand; and it consists in mechanically-actuated jaws or grippers arranged at the end of a pole or handle and devices for actuating the jaws or grippers, as is hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings, a 5 represent a pair of gripping-jaws, which may be formed of metal, wood, or other suitable material and preferably of such curved shape as to encircle and grasp the round surface of a can 01' bottle, the leaves of the jaws terminating in two more nearly parallel fingers 3, which are adapted to pick up smaller articles and articles of other shapes, as well as cylindrical bodies. These jaws a 6 at their base are hinged to a pole socket 1, and they are held normally open by means of a leaf-spring 5,-which may fit in recesses formed in the inner faces of the jaws at their base. On the outer faces of the jaws a b on each side of the hinges 2 are secured brackets 6, having pins 7, which lie horizontally parallel to the outer faces of the jaws, but out of touch with the same and extending toward each other. Pivoted to the socket 4 are lovers 8 9, the inner ends of the levers 8 being pivoted to the ends of the levers 9. In these levers 9 are slots 10, in which the pins 7 engage. and the outer ends of the levers 9 bear against the brackets 6. The outer ends of the levers 8 are connected with each other by a cross-bar 11, which may be an integral part of these levers. Fitting in the socket 4: is the pole 12, and pivoted to the bar 11 is a rod 13, which extends down and along the pole 12 to a hand-lever 14:, which is pivoted to the pole 12 near the end thereof.

The yoke 15 of the handle 1 1 is sufficiently removed from the pole 12 that when the handle is depressed an opening is left between the yoke and the pole which permits a wedge or key 16, which is arranged in a slot in the pole 12, to drop by gravity in this space and hold the handle 14 in its depressed position, thus lock ing the jaws a Z) with a tight grasp around the article to be lifted. To the upper portion of the key 16 is pivoted a lever 17 which is pivoted to the pole 12 and to the end of a trigger 18, which may be depressed by the hand or foot to draw the key 16 out of the space behind the yoke 15, and thus release the lever 14 and the jaws (a b.

The operation is as follows: The open jaws ab are brought to a position about the article to be grasped, the hand-lever leis pressed by the hand toward the handle of the pole 12,

' and thereby the rod 13 is drawn down along the pole and operates the levers 8 9, causing the jaws a b or the fingers 3 to grasp firmly the article which it is desired to remove from the shelf.

The advantages of my improved device will be appreciated by those skilled in. the art. Owing to the arrangement and combination of the parts, a firm grip is obtained, while at the same time the parts are simple, light, and strong. 1

Instead of the rod 13 a cord, chain, or other device may be employed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a lifting device, the combination with a pole, of grasping-jaws, operating mechanism extending along the pole, and levers pivoted to each other and one of them to the pole, one lever being connected to the operating mechanism and the other being loosely connected to and adapted to actuate one at least of said grasping jaws; substantially as described.

2. In a lifting device, the combination with a pole, of grasping-jaws, pins extending from said jaws, operating mechanism extending along the pole, and levers pivoted to each other, one lever being connected to the operating mechanism and the other being slotted and adapted to engage said pins; substantially as described.

3. In a lifting device, the combination with a pole, of grasping-jaws, operating mechanism extending along the pole, and levers pivoted to each other and one of them to the pole, one lever being connected to the operating mechanism and the other being adapted to actuate one at least of said grasping-jaws; and a lock for locking said operating-rod; substantially as described.

4. In a lifting device, the combination with a pole, of grasping-jaws, operating mechanism extending along the pole, and levers pivoted to each other and one of them to the pole, one lever being connected to the operating mechanism and the other being adapted to actuate one at least of said grasping-jaws; a lock for locking said operating-rod, and a trigger for releasing said lock; substantially as described.

5. In a lifting device, the combination with a pole, of grasping-jaws, a spring normally tending to hold said jaws open; operating mechanism extending along the pole, and levers pivoted to each other and one of them to the pole, one lever being connected to the operating mechanism and the other beingloosely connected to and adapted to actuate one at least of said grasping-jaws; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

A. M. STEEN, J AMES K. BAKEWELL. 

